Exit device

ABSTRACT

An improved exit device can be used with a door having anyone of a plurality of latch arrangements including a vertical latch arrangement with latch assemblies at the top and bottom of the door, a lateral latch arrangement with a latch assembly near the center of the door, and a combination vertical and lateral latch arrangement. In addition, the exit device can be associated with latch assemblies which are either concealed within the door or mounted on the surface of the door. The exit device includes a channel shaped slide member which is adapted to be connected with vertical and/or lateral latch assemblies. When a crossbar is depressed, the slide member is moved along a vertical path to actuate the associated latch assemblies from an engaged condition to a disengaged condition. The slide member can also be moved by a suitable outside actuator, such as a thumbpiece or knob. The exit device is advantageously provided with a holdback or dogging cam which is rotated to hold the slide member in a position in which the latch assemblies are disengaged. In addition, the exit device may be provided with a deadlatching dog which is operated from a locking position to a release position as the crossbar is depressed.

United States Patent [191 Vanderburgh a June 25, 1974 EXIT DEVICE [57]ABSTRACT [75] Inventor: Gmrge Vanderburgh, An improved exit device canbe used with a door hav- Somers, ing anyone of a plurality of latcharrangements includ- [73] Assignee: Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, Ohiing a vertical latch arrangement with latch assemblies at the top andbottom of the door, a lateral latch ar- [22] Filed: sept' 1972 rangementwith a latch assembly near the center of [21] 293,430 the door, and acombination vertical and lateral latch arrangement. In addition, theexit device can be associated with latch assemblies which are eithercon- [52] US. Cl. 292/21, 70/92 ceaied within h door or mounted on theSurface of [51] lltl. Cl. E056 9/04, E056 15/02 the door The exit devicei l a channel shaped [58] Fleld of Search 292/92, 5, 6, 7, 21; Slidemember hi i adapted to be Connected with 70/92 vertical and/or laterallatch assemblies. When a crossbar is depressed, the slide member ismoved along a [56] References C'ted vertical path to actuate theassociated latch assemblies UNITED STATES PATENTS from an engagedcondition to a disengaged condition.

1,146,366 7/l9l5 Stewart 292/92 The slide member can also be moved y asuitable 1,547,679 7/1925 Peterson 292/5 outsideactuator, such as athumbpiece or knob. The

1,598,116 8/],926 Bolles 292/92 exit device is advantageously providedwith a h ldl,708,078 4/1929 Bolles 292/5 X back or cam which is rotatedto the slide 2,9l0,858 v l 1/1959 Jackson 70/92 member i a position inwhich the latch assemblies are giiz disengaged. In addition, the exitdevice may be pro- 3,345.099 10/1967 Paul 292/21 3 deadlatchmg dog wh'choperated from Primary Examiner-Robert L. Wolfe Attorney, Agent, orFirmTeagno & Toddy a locking position to a release position as thecrossbar is depressed.

12 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures EXIT DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONlized with combination vertical and lateral latch ar- I rangements inthe manner disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 1,535,210 and 1,097,372. Otherknown exit devices are associated with only vertical latch arrangementsin the manner disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,149,864 and 2,836,451. Stillother exit devices have been associated with only lateral latcharrangements in the manner disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,898,505. As isclearly shown by these patents, panic exit devices have been associatedwith latch arrangements which are mounted on the surface of a door andwith latch arrangements which are concealed within a door. Therefore,there is a need for a universal exit device construction that willenable a single form of exit device to be utilized with many differenttypes of latch arrangements.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention provides a newand improved exit device having a slide member which is actuated bydepressing a panic bar to operate an associated latch arrangement. Theslide member is adapted to operate either a vertical latch assembly, alateral latch assembly, or a combination of these latch assemblies. Thelateral latch assembly can be of either the rim or the mortise type.Similarly, the vertical latch assemblies can be either surface mountedor concealed inside the door. If

desired, the slide member can be actuated by an outside knob orthumbpiece which may be locked.

To facilitate use of the exit device under many different operatingconditions, the exitdevice may advantageously be provided with aholdback or dogging device which is operable to hold the exit device inan actuated condition in which the associated latch assemblies arereleased to enable the door to be opened by merely pressing against thedoor or crossbar without depressing the crossbar. A deadlatching dog maybe provided to lock the exit device against actuation from the outsideand is automatically released by depressing of the crossbar.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to pro vide a new andimproved exit device which can be utilized with a door having anyone ofa plurality of latch arrangements including a vertical latcharrangement, a lateral latch arrangement, or a combination vertical andlateral latch arrangement.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved exitdevice as set forth in the next preceding object and wherein the exitdevice can be utilized with either concealed or surface mounted latchassemblies.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved exitdevice which includes a slide memher which is movable along a verticalpath to actuate vertical and lateral latch arrangements upon depressingof a crossbar or other actuator member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects andfeatures of the present invention will become more apparent upon aconsideration of the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a door having vertical and lateral surfacemounted latch assemblies which are operated by an exit mechanismconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,illustrating the exit device and its relationship to an outside actuatorassembly;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG.2, illustrating the relationship of a lateral latch assembly to a slidemember in the exit device;

FIG. 4 (see sheet 1 of the drawings) is a fragmentary view, takengenerally along the line 44 of FIG. 3, further illustrating therelationship of the lateral latch assembly to the slide member;

FIG. 5 is a simplified illustration of the exit device of FIG. 2 is anactuated condition, a holdback or dogging device being shown operated toretain the exit device in the actuated condition;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, generally similar to FIG. 2, illustratingthe exit device in association with a pair of concealed vertical latchassemblies mounted within a door;

FIG 7 is a sectional view illustrating the exit device in associationwith a lateral latch assembly of the mortise type; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration depicting a deadlatch dog inassociation with the exit device of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF ONE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Although a panicexit device 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention canbe utilized with a door having anyone of a plurality of latch arrangements, the exit device is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in association with acombination vertical and lateral latch arrangement 12. The latcharrangement 12 includes a latch assembly 18 (FIG. 1) which is mounted onan upper portion of the door 14 and has a vertical bolt 20 which engagesa recess in the door casing 22. Similarly, a latch assembly 26 ismounted on the bottom portion of the door 14 and includes a verticalbolt 28 which engages a recess in the threshold. A horizontal or laterallatch assembly 32 (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) is mounted in association withthe exit device 10 and has a horizontal latch bolt 34 which engages arecess in the door casing 22.

When a crossbar 40 (FIG. 1) is depressed, the exit device 10simultaneously operates the three latch assemblies 18, 26 and 32 toenable the door 14 to be opened under the influence of pressure appliedagainst the crossbar. The crossbar 40 is mounted on a pair of pivotaloperating arms 44 and 46. When the crossbar 40 is depressed, theoperating arm 44 is pivoted in a clockwise direction about a horizontalpin 48 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG.5. This movement of the arm 44 actuates the exit device 10 tosimultaneously operate the latch assemblies 3 18, 26 and 32 to theirreleased or disengaged conditions.

In accordance with a feature of the present invention, the exit device10 includes a slide member 52 which is adapted to be connected witheither concealed or surface mounted latch assemblies of the verticaland/or lateral type. To effect actuation of associated latch assemblies,slide member 52 is moved vertically relative to a base 54 by pivotalmovement of the operating arm 44 about the pin 48. The slide member 52is connected with the latch assemblies 18, 26 and 32 so as to eflectsimultaneous operation of the latch assemblies to their releasedconditions in response to movement of the op erating arm.

The slide member 52 has a generally channel shaped configuration and isprovided with an upper flange 56 having a U-shaped slot 58 (FIG. 4)which receives an upper vertical rod 62 connecting the slide member withthe upper latch assembly 18 (FIG. 1). A lower flange 66 on the slidemember 52 is provided with a U-shaped slot 68 (FIG. which receives alower vertical rod 70 connected with the lower latch assembly 26. Thelatch bolt 34 of the lateral latch assembly 32 (See FIG. 4) is connectedwith the slide member 52 by a pair of laterally or transverselyextending pins 74 and 76 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

When the crossbar 40 is depressed to pivot the operating arm 44 in aclockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the positionshown in FIG. 5, the slide member 52 is raised vertically upwardly by aninner end or nose portion 80 of the operating arm 44. Thus as theoperating arm 44 is depressed toward the door 14, the nose portion 80 ofthe arm presses upwardly against a pin 84 which extends between oppositeside walls 86 and 88 of the channel shaped slide member 52 (see FIGS. 3,4 and 5) and raises the slide member. This upward movement of the slidemember 52 moves the rods 62 and 70 to actuate the latch assemblies l8and 26 to a released or disengaged condition in a known manner.

In addition to operating the latch assemblies 18 and 26, upward movementof the slide member 52 operates the lateral latch assembly 32 to areleased or disengaged condition. Thus as the slide member 52 movesupwardly, an upper cam or actuating surface 92 on the slide member 52presses the upper pin 74 outwardly to pivot the latchbolt 34 in aclockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 4) about a vertically extendingsupport pin 96. Continued upward movement of the slide member 52 causesthe cam surface 92 to force the upper pin 74 outwardly to the positionshown in FIG. 5 to move the latchbolt 34 to a disengaged conditionagainst the influence of a pair of biasing or return springs 100.

When the crossbar 40 is released with the'door 14 in the closed positionof FIG. 1, a return spring 102 pivots the operating arm 44 in acointerclockwise direction to release the slide member 52 for downwardmovement under the influence of gravity or, if desired, suitable biasingsprings. Of course, this downward movement of the slide member 52results in the latch assemblies 18, 26 and 32 being returned to theirengaged or latched conditions to hold the door 14 in the closedposition.

It is contemplated that the exit device will be used with both right andleft hand opening doors. When the exit device 10 and lateral latchassembly 32 are mounted on the right hand side of a door, the base 54and slide member 52 are rotated throuh half a revolution from theposition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 so that the latch bolt 34 will engagethe right hand side of the door casing. A cam surface 104 on the slidemember 52 (see FIG. 5) will then be positioned upwardly to actuate whatwill then be the upper pin 76 in the same manner as in which the pin 74was actuated by the cam surface 92. To facilitate utilizing the slidemember 52 with either a right or left hand mounting, the two side walls86 and 88 of the slide member are of the same configuration so that theyare both provided with a pair of cam surfaces, similar to the camsurfaces 92 and 104, to actuate either one of two parallel pins 74 and76 extending from the latch bolt 34.

Vertical movement of the slide member 52 is guided by the base 54 whichis fixedly connected to the door 14. The base 54 includes a pair ofparallel side panels 1 l0 and 112 which extend outwardly from a bottomor base panel 114 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The slide member 52 is disposedbetween the side panels and 112 (FIG. 4) with the side walls 86 and 88of the slide member disposed in sliding engagement with parallel guidesurfaces formed on the inside of the panels 110 and 112. A bottom wall116 of the side member 52 is maintained in abutting engagement with thebottom panel 114 of the base 54 by a pair of horizontally extendingguide pins 122 and 124 which extend between opposite side walls 110 and112 of the base 54 (see FIGS. 3 and 5). Thus the base 54 and guide pins122 and 124 cooperate with the slide member 52 to maintain it in avertical path as it is moved under the influence of the operating arm44.

It is contemplated that under certain circumstances it will be desirableto maintain the latch assemblies 18, 26 and 32 in the disengagedcondition so that the door 14 can be swung open by merely pressingagainst the door. Accordingly, a hold down or dogging device is operablefrom the disengaged position of FIG. 2 to the engaged position of FIG. 5to hold the operating arm 44 actuated against the influence of thereturn spring 102. The hold down device 140 includes a cam or dog 144which is pivotally mounted between the side walls 110 and 112 of thebase 54 on a shaft 146. The shaft 146 isprovided with a socket 148 intowhich an Allen wrench is inserted and rotated to effect rotation of thedog 144 from the inactive position of FIG. 2 to the active position ofFIG. 5. When the dog 144 is in the active position of FIG. 5, theoperating arm 44 is held against rotation in a counterclockwisedirection under the influence of the biasing spring 102 and the slidemember 52 is held upwardly to maintain the latch assemblies 18, 26 and32 in their disengaged or unlatched conditions. Of course, when theshaft 146 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction back to thereleased position of FIG. 2, the operating arm 44 is free to pivot in acounterclockwise direction under the influence of the return spring 102to thereby enable the latch assemblies 18, 26 and 32 to become engaged.

An actuator assembly 152 (see FIG. 2) is provided to operate the latchassemblies 18, 26 and 32 to the disengaged condition from outside of thedoor 14. The outside actuator assembly 152 includes a thumbpiece 154which is pivotal about a fixed connection 156 to move a slide 158downwardly from the position shown in FIG. 2. This downward movement ofthe slide 158 pivots an actuator lever 162 about a fixed connection 168to move the slide member 52 in the exit device 10 upwardly. Of course,this upward movement of the slide member 52 operates the latchassemblies 18, 26 and 32 to their disengaged conditions in the mannerpreviously explained in connection with the crossbar 40.

Accordingly, when it is desired to release the latch assemblies 18, 26and 32 from outside the door, the thumbpiece 154 is moved about theconnection 156. The slide 158 is moved downwardly with the thumbpiece154 by the interaction between a flange 172 formed on the slide and alower surface 174 on the thumpiece. As the slide 158 moves downwardly, anose portion 178 of the actuator lever 162 is pulled downwardly aboutthe pivot connection 168 to rotate the actuator lever in acounterclockwise direction about the fixed connection 168; An operatingend portion 180 of the actuator lever 152 extends into an opening 184formed in the slide member 52 so that movement of the actuator lever 162in a counterclockwise direction about the connection 168 raises theslide member 52. As the slide member 52 moves upwardly, the cross pin 84which extends between the walls 86 and 88 of the slide member 52 movesaway from the nose'or operating end portion 80 of the arm 44 while thearm remains in the position shown in FIG. 2 under the influence of thebiasing spring 102.

A cylinder lock 190 is provided in association with the outside actuatorassembly 152 to prevent undesired opening of the door 14. The cylinderlock 190 is operated by suitable key 192 to swing a lever 194 between alocking or latched condition and a released or disengaged condition.When the lever ,194 is in the locking condition, it engages the actuatorlever 162 and holds it against rotation about the connection 168 so thatthe thumbpiece 154 cannot be moved to effect disengagement of the latchassemblies 18, 26 and 32. Of course, when the key 192 is rotated in thecylinder lock 190, the arm 194 is swung to one side of the'actuatorlever 162 so that it is free to pivot about the connection 168 under theinfluence of a thumbpiece 154.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, the exitdevice is associated with surface mounted latch assemblies 18, 26 and32. It is contemplated that under certain circumstances it will bedesirable to utilize the exit device 10 in association with concealedlatch assemblies mounted on the interior of a door 200 (see'FIG. 6).When the exit device 10 is used with a vertical latch arrangement havingconcealed upper and lower vertical latch assemblies, the exit device isconnected with the latch assemblies by upper and lower vertical rods 202and 204 (FIG. 6) which extendthrough the interior of the door.

The upper vertical rod 202 is connected with the slide member 52 by abracket 208 which extends through a slot 210 in the door. The bracket208 is connected with the slide 52 by a pin 214 (FIG. 6) which extendsthrough a slot 215 into a hole 216 (FIG. 5) in the bottom of the slide52..Therefore, when the cross bar 40 is depressed and the slide 52 ismoved vertically, the bracket 208 is raised to move the upper verticalrod 202 upwardly. Of course, this movement of the upper vertical rod 202operates the upper interior latch assembly to the disengaged conditionin the manner previously explained in connection with the latch assembly18 of FIG. 1.

The lower vertical rod 204 is also connected with the slide member 52 sothat vertical movement of the slide member operates a lower concealedlatch assembly,

similar to the latch assembly 26 of FIG. 1. Thus, the lower vertical rod204 is provided with an end portion 220 which extends through a slot 222in the door 200 and the slot 215 in the base 54. The outer end portionof the lower vertical rod 204 is received in a slot 226 in the bottom ofthe slide member 52 (see FIG. 5). Therefore, when the slide member 52 israised upwardly by the operating arm 44, the lower vertical rod 204 israised to actuate a latch assembly concealed in the lower portion of thedoor in much the same manner as in which the latch assembly 26 isoperated. It should be noted that the slide member 52 is provided withan upper slot 230 (see FIG. 5) which is of the same size as the slot 226and with a hole 232 which is of the same size of the hole 216 to enablethe slide member 52 to be connected with the upper and lower verticalrods 202 and 204 even if the orientation of the slide member is changedby In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6 the exitdevice 10 is utilized in association with only a vertical. latcharrangement, that is concealed upper andlower latches. In the embodimentof the invention illustrated in FIG. 7, the exit assembly 10 is utilizedin association with a door 240 having only a lateral latch arrangement242. The lateral latch arrangement 242 is formed by a mortise type lock244 disposed within the door 240 and actuated by the exit device 10. Toprovide for actuation of the lock 244, a lifter assembly 250 isconnected to the slide member 52 and has an arm 252 which engages aretracting slide within the lock 244 to retract the mortise latch boltin a known manner.

The lifter assembly 250 is connected with the slide member 52 by a pairof connector pins 256 and 258 which extend through the slot 226 in theslide member and the slot 215 in the base member 54. When the crossbar40 is depressed to swing the operating arm 44 in a clockwise directionabout the support pin 48, the pin 84 and slide member 52 are movedupwardly to raise the lifter assembly 250. Upward movement of thelifterassembly 250 causes the pin 252 to actuate the mortise lock 244 toa released or disengaged condition in which the door 240 can be readilyopened. Of course, a suitable outside lock could be associated with themortise lock 244 is desired.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 8 is similar to theembodiment shown in FIG. 2 and is associated with a combination verticaland lateral latch arrangement. However, the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in FIG. 8 includes a deadlatching fea ture which isadvantageously provided in association with the lateral latch assembly32. The deadlatching feature includes a latch dog 270 which isautomatically moved from the deadlatching or locked position shown insolid lines in FIG. 8 to the released or disengaged position shown indashed lines in FIG. 8 upon pivoting of the operating arm 44 by inwardmovement of the crossbar 40.

When the latch dog 270 is in the locked position, an end portion or nose274 engages the pin 84 to hold the slide member 52 against verticalmovement under the influence of the operating am 44. In addition, thelatch dog 270 is provided with a stop surface 278 which is engaged bythe lower pin 76 extending from the lateral latch assembly 32 to holdthe lateral latch assembly in the engaged or locked position. Thus, whenthe latch dog 270 is in the locked position, the latch assembly 32cannot be released.

When the crossbar 40 is depressed, the latch dog 274 is automaticallyreleased. This is accomplished by pivoting the latch dog 270 about aconnection 280 to the released position with an arm or trigger bolt 282as the operating arm 44 and crossbar 40 are depressed. When the latchdog 270 is moved to the released position shown in dashed lines in FIG.8, the nose portion 274 is disposed outwardly of the cross pin 84 sothat the slide member 54 can be raised upwardly. In addition, a slot 286in the latch dog 250 is aligned with the pin 76 to enable the laterallatch assembly 32 to be operated to the released or disengaged conditionin the manner previously explained.

In view of the foregoing description, it can be seen that the exitdevice 10 can be used with doors having anyone of a plurality of latcharrangements including the combination vertical and lateral latcharrangement 12 shown in FIGS. l5,-a vertical latch arrangement as shownin FIG. 6, and a lateral latch arrangement as shown in FIG. 7. Inaddition, the exit device 10 can be utilized with either concealed orsurface mounted latch assemblies. The exit device 10 is constructed sothat it can be used with either right or left hand opening doors.

The exit device includes a slider member 52 which is moved along avertical path by depressing a crossbar 4t) and operating arm 44.Movement of the slide member 52 along the vertical path is guided byspaced apart parallel inner surfaces of walls 110 and 112 of the base54. The slide member 52 is provided with cam surfaces 92 and 104 whichare utilized to effect operation of the lateral latch assembly 32. Inaddition, the slide member 52 is provided wih openings which areconnected with upper and lower vertical rods for actuating verticallatch assemblies. In the case of surface mounted verti cal rods, theopenings in the flanges 56 and 66 are used. However, when the verticalrods are located within the door, openings are in the bottom wall N6 ofthe slide member are used. The bottom wall 116 of the slide member 52 isalso provided with an opening 18d to enable the slide member to be movedby an outside actuator assembly 152.

Having described a specific preferred embodiment of the invention, thefollowing is claimed:

1. An exit device for use with a door having any one of a plurality oflatch arrangements including a vertical latch arrangement with latchassemblies at the top and bottom portions of a door, a lateral latcharrangement v with a latch assembly at the center portion of a door,

and a combination vertical and lateral latch arrangement with latchassemblies at the top, center and bottom portions of a door, said exitdevice comprising an actuator member movable between an unactuatedposition and an actuated position, a vertically movable slide member foractuating vertical and lateral latch assemblies upon vertical movementthereof, guide means adapted to be connected with a door for directingmovement of said slide member along a vertical path relative to thedoor, means for effecting vertical movement of said slide member from afirst position to a second position in response to movement of saidactuator member from the unactuated position to the actuated position,said slide member including first means for effecting actuation of alatch assembly at the top portion of a door upon vertical movement ofsaid slide member from the first position to the second position, secondmeans for effecting actuation of a latch assembly at the bottom portionof a door upon vertical movement of said slide member from the firstposition to the second position, third means for effecting actuation ofa latch assembly at the center portion of a door upon vertical movementof said slide member from the first position to the second position, andretainer means for retaining said slide member in the second position,said retainer means including a hold back cam member rotatable between afirst position and a second position in which said hold back cam memberengages said actuator member and blocks movement of said actuator memberfrom the actuated position to the unactuated position.

2. An exit device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said third meansincludes a cam surface formed on said slide member and extendingtransversely to the vertical path of movement of said slide member.

3. An exit device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first, second andthird means each include means for effecting actuation of a latchassembly disposed within a door and means for effecting actuation of alatch assembly disposed outside of a door.

4. An exit device as set forth in claim 1 further including actuatormeans adapted to extend at least part way through a door from a side ofthe door opposite from a side of the door on which said actuator memberis disposed for engaging said slide member and effecting movement ofsaid slide member from the first position to the second position.

5. An exit device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide meansincludes a base adapted to be connected to a vertical surface of a doorand first and second side sections connected to said base and definingfirst and second spaced apart parallel guide surfaces, said slide memberhaving a generally channel shaped configuration with a bottom walldisposed in abutting engagement with said base of said guide means and apair of spaced apart side walls extending outwardly from said bottomwall and disposed in abutting engagement with said side sections of saidguide means, said means for effecting movement of said slide memberincluding connector means extending between said side walls of saidslide member, said actuator member having an end portion which isdisposed between said side walls of said slide member in abuttingengagement with said connector means when said actuator member is in theactuated position.

6. An apparatus for use with a door which is movable between a closedposition at least partially blocking an opening in a wall and an openposition, said apparatus comprising upper latch means adapted to bemounted on an upper portion of the door, lower latch means adapted to bemounted on a lower portion of the door, lateral latch means adapted tobe mounted on a center portion of the door, each of said latch meansbeing operable between a disengaged condition and an engaged conditionin which each of said latch means is effective to hold the door againstmovement, and actuator means for effecting simultaneous operation ofeach of said latch means between the engaged and disengaged conditions,said actuator means including a movable slide member, guide means forguiding movement of said slide member along a vertical path, firstconnector means extending upwardly from said slide member to said upperlatch means for effecting operation of said upper latch means betweenthe engaged and disengaged conditions in response to vertical movementof said slide member, second connector mean extending downwardly fromsaid slide member to said lower latch means for effecting operation ofsaid lower latch means in response to vertical movement of saidslidemember, third connector means for effecting operation of said laterallatch means in response to vertical movement of said slide member, anactuator member connected with said guide means and movable between anunactuated position and anactuated position to effect movement of saidslide member along the vertical path, and dead latchcam means rotatablebetween a latching condition in which said deadlatch cam means retainssaid slide member against movement along the vertical path and a releasecondition in which said deadlatch means is ineifective to retain saidslide member against movement.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said actuator memberincludes an inner end portion which lifts said slide member verticallyupwardly upon movement of said actuator member from the unactuatedposition to the actuated position.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further including means foroperating said deadlatch automatic means from the latching condition tothe release condition upon movement of said actuator member from theunactuated position toward the actuated position.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further includ ing spring meansfor urging said actuator member toward the unactuated position andretainer means for holding said actuator member in the actuated positionagainst the urging of said spring means.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the door has first andsecond sides, said actuator means being adapted to be mounted adjacentto the first side of the door, said apparatus further including operatormeans adapted to extend at least part way through the door from thesecond side of the door to said actuator means for effecting operationof said actuator means to operate each of said latch means from theengaged condition to the disengaged condition with said actuator memberin the unactuated position.

11. An exit device for operating vertical latch arrangements at the topand bottom of a door panel and lateral latch arrangements on either sideof the door panel to allow the mounting of the exit device on right andleft hand opening doors comprising an actuator member movable between anunactuated position and an activated position, a movable slide membermovable by said actuator member between a first and a second position tooperate the vertical and lateral latch assemblies, guide means fordirecting the movement of said slide member, said slide member havingfirst means for operating the vertical latch arrangements upon move mentof said slide member from said first to said second position, said slidemember having second means for operating the lateral latch arrangementsupon movement of said slide member from said first to said secondposition, said slide member being mounted in one position on one side ofthe door panel and in an inverted position on the other side of the doorpanel to thereby operate the lateral latch arrangements on right andleft hand opening doors, and cam means rotatable between said actuatormember and said slide member to prevent the actuation of said slidemember by said actuator member upon a predetermined rotation of said cammeans.

12. An exit device as set forth :in claim 11 wherein said slide memberhas cam members at oposite ends and is moved by said actuator member ina vertical direction between said first and said second position to haveone of said cam members operate the lateral latch arrangement in oneposition on said door panel and to have said opposite cam member operatethe lateral latch arrangement in said inverted position on the otherside of the door panel.

* IK i

1. An exit device for use with a door having any one of a plurality oflatch arrangements including a vertical latch arrangement with latchassemblies at the top and bottom portions of a door, a lateral latcharrangement with a latch assembly at the center portion of a door, and acombination vertical and lateral latch arrangement with latch assembliesat the top, center and bottom portions of a door, said exit devicecomprising an actuator member movable between an unactuated position andan actuated position, a vertically movable slide member for actuatingvertical and lateral latch assemblies upon vertical movement thereof,guide means adapted to be connected with a door for directing movementof said slide member along a vertical path relative to the door, meansfor effecting vertical movement of said slide member from a firstposition to a second position in response to movement of said actuatormember from the unactuated position to the actuated position, said slidemember including first means for effecting actuation of a latch assemblyat the top portion of a door upon vertical movement of said slide memberfrom the first position to the second position, second means foreffecting actuation of a latch assembly at the bottom portion of a doorupon vertical movement of said slide member from the first position tothe seocnd position, third means for effecting actuation of a latchassembly at the center portion of a door upon vertical movement of saidslide member from the first position to the second position, andretainer means for retaining said slide member in the second position,said retainer means including a hold back cam member rotatable between afirst position and a second position in which said hold back cam memberengages said actuator member and blocks movement of said actuator memberfrom the actuated position to the unactuated position.
 2. An exit deviceas set forth in claim 1 wherein said third means includes a cam surfaceformed on said slide member and extending transversely to the verticalpath of movement of said slide member.
 3. An exit device as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said first, second and third means each include meansfor effecting actuation of a latch assembly disposed within a door andmeans for effecting actuation of a latch assembly disposed outside of adoor.
 4. An exit device as set forth in claim 1 further includingactuator means adapted to extend at least part way through a door from aside of the door opposite from a side of the door on which said actuatormember is disposed for engaging said slide member and effecting movementof said slide member from the first position to the second position. 5.An exit device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide means includesa base adapted to be connected to a vertical surface of a door and firstand second side sections connected to said base and defining first andsecond spaced apart parallel guide surfaces, said slide member having agenerally channel shaped configuration with a bottom wall disposed inabutting engagement with said base of said guide means and a pair ofspaced apart side walls extending outwardly from said bottom wall anddisposed in abutting engagement with said side sections of said guidemeans, said means for effecting movement of said slide member includingconnector means extending between said side walls of said slide member,said actuator member having an end portion which is disposed betweensaid side walls of said slide member in abutting engagement with saiDconnector means when said actuator member is in the actuated position.6. An apparatus for use with a door which is movable between a closedposition at least partially blocking an opening in a wall and an openposition, said apparatus comprising upper latch means adapted to bemounted on an upper portion of the door, lower latch means adapted to bemounted on a lower portion of the door, lateral latch means adapted tobe mounted on a center portion of the door, each of said latch meansbeing operable between a disengaged condition and an engaged conditionin which each of said latch means is effective to hold the door againstmovement, and actuator means for effecting simultaneous operation ofeach of said latch means between the engaged and disengaged conditions,said actuator means including a movable slide member, guide means forguiding movement of said slide member along a vertical path, firstconnector means extending upwardly from said slide member to said upperlatch means for effecting operation of said upper latch means betweenthe engaged and disengaged conditions in response to vertical movementof said slide member, second connector mean extending downwardly fromsaid slide member to said lower latch means for effecting operation ofsaid lower latch means in response to vertical movement of said slidemember, third connector means for effecting operation of said laterallatch means in response to vertical movement of said slide member, anactuator member connected with said guide means and movable between anunactuated position and an actuated position to effect movement of saidslide member along the vertical path, and deadlatch cam means rotatablebetween a latching condition in which said deadlatch cam means retainssaid slide member against movement along the vertical path and a releasecondition in which said deadlatch means is ineffective to retain saidslide member against movement.
 7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6wherein said actuator member includes an inner end portion which liftssaid slide member vertically upwardly upon movement of said actuatormember from the unactuated position to the actuated position.
 8. Anapparatus as set forth in claim 6 further including means for operatingsaid deadlatch automatic means from the latching condition to therelease condition upon movement of said actuator member from theunactuated position toward the actuated position.
 9. An apparatus as setforth in claim 6 further including spring means for urging said actuatormember toward the unactuated position and retainer means for holdingsaid actuator member in the actuated position against the urging of saidspring means.
 10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the doorhas first and second sides, said actuator means being adapted to bemounted adjacent to the first side of the door, said apparatus furtherincluding operator means adapted to extend at least part way through thedoor from the second side of the door to said actuator means foreffecting operation of said actuator means to operate each of said latchmeans from the engaged condition to the disengaged condition with saidactuator member in the unactuated position.
 11. An exit device foroperating vertical latch arrangements at the top and bottom of a doorpanel and lateral latch arrangements on either side of the door panel toallow the mounting of the exit device on right and left hand openingdoors comprising an actuator member movable between an unactuatedposition and an activated position, a movable slide member movable bysaid actuator member between a first and a second position to operatethe vertical and lateral latch assemblies, guide means for directing themovement of said slide member, said slide member having first means foroperating the vertical latch arrangements upon movement of said slidemember from said first to said second position, said slide member havingsecond means for operating the lateral latch arrangements upon movementof said slide mEmber from said first to said second position, said slidemember being mounted in one position on one side of the door panel andin an inverted position on the other side of the door panel to therebyoperate the lateral latch arrangements on right and left hand openingdoors, and cam means rotatable between said actuator member and saidslide member to prevent the actuation of said slide member by saidactuator member upon a predetermined rotation of said cam means.
 12. Anexit device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said slide member has cammembers at oposite ends and is moved by said actuator member in avertical direction between said first and said second position to haveone of said cam members operate the lateral latch arrangement in oneposition on said door panel and to have said opposite cam member operatethe lateral latch arrangement in said inverted position on the otherside of the door panel.